Purely Wasting My Time

Principal Sarutobi Wu came to the rooftop of the school building and watched the sparring match on the field.

Beside him were Team Leader Huìdài and Quan Yan, the Three-Body Technique instructor.

Huìdài said, "Principal, the young master gave Young Master Asuma Sarutobi a ninjutsu scroll. Young Master Asuma Sarutobi actually learned Wind Release ninjutsu."

Sarutobi Wu nodded, in a good mood.

As an important jonin of the Sarutobi Clan, he had overseen the ninja academy for many years and had cultivated many outstanding Sarutobi Clan ninjas.

Quan Yan, standing nearby, said, "I still have to teach Young Master Asuma Sarutobi the Three-Body Technique for several more years, yet he has already learned a more advanced elemental ninjutsu on his own."

Sarutobi Wu glanced at Quan Yan. "Quan Yan, as the Three-Body Technique instructor, you must not underestimate the Three-Body Technique.

"The academy teachers' combat experience cannot compare to that of ninjas who have survived on the front lines for years. Sometimes, a single Substitution Technique can turn the tide of battle and change a squad's fate."

"Yes, yes, Principal. I only meant to marvel at Young Master Asuma Sarutobi's great talent for ninjutsu."

Quan Yan was deeply annoyed. His flattery always landed in the wrong place, unlike Team Leader Huìdài beside him, who was far more seasoned at it.

Sarutobi Wu looked at Uchiha Ling, Asuma Sarutobi's opponent, and said:

"Last semester, I originally wanted Uchiha Ling to graduate early. I never expected the Uchiha Clan head to intervene.

"The Uchiha Clan's reach is quite long. They even want to meddle in cultivating Hidden Leaf Village's future."

Quan Yan asked from the side, "Principal, why not conscript large numbers of Uchiha Clan ninjas to the front lines?

"Most of them stay in the Military Police Force. It's far too safe and comfortable."

Sarutobi Wu said, "The village higher-ups have their reasons for setting such a policy."

He did not wish to explain. If the Uchiha Clan sent large numbers of ninjas to the front lines, the Uchiha ninjas' strength would rise rapidly.

Facing death and loss would stimulate the Uchiha Clan, making the surviving Uchiha increasingly stronger. That was not something the village wished to see.

Quan Yan's mouth turned bitter. He had said the wrong thing again. He hurriedly changed the subject:

"Look! Young Master Asuma Sarutobi is using ninjutsu for the second time! As expected of him—he can use Wind Release ninjutsu twice in a row!"

In the field, Asuma Sarutobi formed three hand seals, took a deep breath, and blew toward Uchiha Ling.

This felt amazing!

All the frustration he had bottled up for so long was swept away with that blast of wind.

He was the number one after Kakashi!

Yet confusion and panic quickly appeared in his eyes.

Uchiha Ling formed hand seals as well.

What was he doing? Had Uchiha Ling mastered ninjutsu too?

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

The wind blast, carrying crushing pressure, rushed toward Uchiha Ling.

Great Breakthrough required three hand seals, making it quick to cast.

Great Fireball required six hand seals, making it slower to cast.

By the time the wind blast struck Uchiha Ling, the fireball had only just appeared.

However, Fire Release countered Wind Release.

The high heat and pressure released by the Great Fireball disrupted the flow of air.

When the wind blast collided with the Great Fireball, it rapidly collapsed into chaotic, uncontrollable currents.

The Great Fireball's scorching heat even made Asuma Sarutobi's face burn.

Yamano was about to intervene. He could not let Young Master Asuma Sarutobi get burned, but when he saw the fireball stop advancing, he did not move.

The fireball, more than a meter in diameter and as tall as a person, completely suppressed Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. It hovered two meters in front of Asuma Sarutobi.

Once both their ninjutsu ended, Asuma Sarutobi stood there in a daze, his eyes hollow and the corners of his mouth drooping.

He had painstakingly practiced Wind Release ninjutsu throughout an entire break. After mastering it, not only had his brother praised him lavishly, but even his father had carefully asked about the details of his training for the first time.

He had thought he would become the strongest in ninjutsu in both the class and the grade, but then...

The heat waves from the Fire Release made his eyes sting. Asuma Sarutobi lowered his head and stared blankly at the ground.

[There is a ninja near the host whose defenses have been broken. The Defense-Breaking System is activating...]

[Asuma Sarutobi's defenses have been broken. Extracting an ability related to Asuma Sarutobi. The host may choose one of three options.

Option One: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough;

Option Two: 0.2 Kaka of chakra;

Option Three: Basic kunai throwing technique.]

Uchiha Ling currently had 0.6 Kaka of chakra, 0.3 Kaka of which had been drawn by the system. His own chakra reserves were only 0.3 Kaka.

Last year, Asuma Sarutobi had displayed 0.1 Kaka of chakra in the system. Now, he had 0.2 Kaka. His improvement rate was actually quite good.

If not for Uchiha Ling, Asuma Sarutobi would undoubtedly have been the number one after Kakashi graduated early.

Why must there be a Ling when there was already a Yu?

Of the three options, Uchiha Ling chose Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.

He now possessed both Wind and Fire affinities. Learning another Wind Release technique would let him practice using Wind chakra and keep that affinity from sitting idle and going to waste.

In the original story, Orochimaru had been rather fond of using Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. This technique had to have its merits.

Still, Uchiha Ling felt that Asuma Sarutobi was incapable of great things, sitting atop a mountain of gold without knowing how to mine it.

Danzo had so many powerful Wind Release techniques, including one capable of cutting through Susanoo, yet he only learned Great Breakthrough?

"Asuma Sarutobi, you think you can challenge me after making so little progress? You're purely wasting my time.

"Go back and reflect.

"Remember, don't make a move so easily. The moment you do, everyone will know just how weak you are."

"Uchiha Ling!"

Teacher Yamano stepped into the field and, unusually, interfered with the sparring match.

"Mastering elemental ninjutsu at the age of six makes him outstanding among students of any class!

"Asuma Sarutobi has improved at an astonishing pace. Whether in talent or diligence, he is among the finest students of the past three classes. His rate of improvement is merely not as fast as yours.

"Asuma Sarutobi, don't be discouraged. You have already done excellently."

Hearing Teacher Yamano's praise, Asuma Sarutobi felt much better.

That was right. He had improved quickly. He simply had not improved as quickly as Uchiha Ling.

Asuma Sarutobi left the Training Ground. Nara Saku, Akimichi Takashi, Obito Uchiha, and the others all stepped forward to comfort him.

Ibiki Morino raised his hand again. "Teacher! I want to challenge Uchiha Ling!"

When he saw Ibiki Morino, bitterness filled Uchiha Ling's heart, and he hurriedly said:

"Teacher! I admit I was showing off a little just now. In my spar with Asuma Sarutobi, I used up too much chakra.

"My whole body is weak and sore. I can't extract even a bit of chakra right now.

"I refuse to spar with Ibiki Morino!"

Yamano nodded. "Among the five elemental ninjutsu, Fire Release and Water Release consume relatively large amounts of chakra. You expended a great deal defeating Asuma Sarutobi as well."

"Yes, yes, I used up a lot."

"Then arrange another sparring match for Ibiki Morino."

Obito Uchiha asked Nara Saku from the side, "Saku, why do I feel like Uchiha Ling is especially afraid of Ibiki Morino?"

Nara Saku shook his head. "I'll observe a little longer and see whether Ibiki Morino has mastered some kind of secret."

Ibiki Morino sparred with Aoba Yamashiro. After watching for a while, Nara Saku did not find anything special about Ibiki Morino. At most, he was tougher than the others. After being hit, he looked as though nothing had happened.

After school, Nara Saku stopped Ibiki Morino.

"Ibiki Morino, how did you make Uchiha Ling avoid you?"